The Day of the Regavim Corridor Inauguration

On February 2, 2026, Palestinian editorial focus shifted from the logistical anticipation of the Rafah crossing's reopening to the restrictive reality of its operation. Morning headlines were dominated by the unveiling of the 'Regavim' security corridor, which editors framed as an Israeli-controlled sieve rather than a humanitarian gateway. While the first buses of returnees from Egypt and a few medical cases were documented, health officials countered this by reporting a lack of clear mechanisms for patient transfers, describing the day as a failed 'pilot' that left thousands stranded. By early afternoon, attention pivoted to institutional governance as the National Committee formally assumed administrative duties in Gaza, following Hamas’s announcement that it had completed the handover of civil departments. Simultaneously, reports intensified regarding lethal ceasefire violations in Beit Lahia and Nuseirat. Evening coverage was defined by legal developments in France, where arrest warrants were issued for Israeli citizens over genocide complicity, and by the death of Khalid al-Saifi shortly after his release from prison.